BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Residents in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn are on edge after a fatal stabbing outside of the popular bar Catch 22 Sunday morning.
The incident has left many questioning the neighborhood's safety, but community leaders are vowing to keep the streets safe.
PIX11's Cory McGinnis spoke with residents like Paul Deluca, who has lived in Bay Ridge for most of his life. Deluca woke up on Sunday to the news of the stabbing and admits to feeling shaken.
"It makes you kind of give a second thought to walking around late at night," Deluca said.
While acknowledging the incident is concerning, Deluca believes it's an isolated event. However, he admits to taking more precautions now.
"Bay Ridge isn't being overrun by crime," Deluca said. "You walk home late at night and you kind of make a point to be a bit more vigilant."
Early Sunday morning, police from the 68th precinct responded to a call of a stabbing at the 72nd Street bar. Officers arrived to find the victim, 37-year-old Daryl Dawkins, with a stab wound to the torso. Paramedics rushed Dawkins to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives believe Dawkins was stabbed after being involved in a dispute over his bill and being thrown out of the bar. The bar itself has a reputation for attracting a rowdy crowd.
Josephine Beckman, the District Manager of Community Board 10, expressed the community's outrage. "Yes, the community is understandably upset," Beckman said.
Beckman emphasized that despite this incident, Bay Ridge is overall a safe community. However, following the stabbing, concerns have been raised regarding late-night noise disturbances and quality-of-life issues associated with the bar.
According to Police Department data, the latest statistics show a decrease in crime across the 68th Precinct, which encompasses Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Fort Hamilton.
A statement from Council Member Justin Brannan's office reads in part: "We are confident the NYPD will bring this murderer to swift justice. Bay Ridge values and respects businesses that value and respect the safety of their neighbors. Senseless violence and wanton brutality must never be normalized."
While the investigation continues, the chilling effect of the incident remains. Resident Paul Deluca expressed his unease. "It just kind of makes you keep in mind that anything could happen really fast," Deluca said.
The police are still searching for suspects. Anyone with information that can aid in the investigation is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
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